JOBSWORTH traffic wardens issued a disabled 78-year-old grandmother with a #60 fine because she displayed her disability badge the wrong way up.

Bertha Williamson, who has severe spinal arthritis, was attending a knitting group at Birmingham Central Library when parking officials imposed the hefty charge.

The pensioner parked in a disabled bay at the Civic Centre with her daughter so they could join knitters at the library's Stitch and Bitch club.

But when they returned to their Vauxhall Corsa they were shocked to find they had been fined for failing to display a valid disability certificate.

Mrs Williamson, who is from Sheffield and was in Birmingham to visit her daughter Dr Janet Collins from Moseley, left the disabled badge on the dashboard with the photo facing upwards instead of the expiry date on the other side.

Dr Collins, aged 48, said that although they were at fault, the council's parking attendants should have shown more understanding.

"I phoned the number on the ticket on Saturday but just got an answering machine telling me to put my complaint in writing," she said. "It is #60 or #30 if we pay it in the next 14 days. My mum said she will just pay it but she's on a pension and #30 is a lot of money to find.

"I know they are just doing their job but they can choose to do it in an understanding way. Birmingham is my adopted city and I've been bragging about it to my family for a long time, about what an under-standing, tolerant place it is, but I've ended up eating my words."

A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council's parking department said officials would investigate the complaint.

"If the lady writes to us we will look into her case," she said. "Parking attendants are not allowed to show any discretion, that is why we have an appeals process so that these things can be looked at by somebody not involved."

Mrs Williamson's fine come hard on the heels of the one issued to disabled pensioner Tom Bodley from Northfield. He was given a #60 parking ticket in March because his new disability badge was the wrong way round.

Retired factory worker Mr Bodley was using his blue badge for the first time on a shopping trip when he was stung.